What to Do After a Catastrophic Injury
In the overwhelming aftermath, a few steps protect your loved one and their future. Here they are, in order.
Focus on care first
Get your loved one the best medical care available, and lean on the care team. Everything else can follow, but their treatment and stabilization come first.
Preserve the evidence
Depending on the cause, preserve what matters — the vehicle, the product, the scene, or the records. Serious injuries deserve a thorough investigation while evidence is fresh.
Keep records of everything
Save medical records and bills, and keep a journal of the injury, the treatment, and its impact on your loved one and family over time.
Be very careful with insurers
Do not accept an early offer or sign anything, and be cautious about recorded statements, before the full extent of the injury is understood. Early offers are almost always far too low.
Get a free review early
An attorney can preserve evidence, engage the experts who document the lifelong future, and identify every responsible party — before deadlines run or evidence is lost.
The deadlines and rules depend on your state
The steps above apply wherever you were hurt. Filing deadlines, fault rules, and limits on damages differ by state — pick yours for what applies to catastrophic injury.
Not sure where you stand?
A quick, confidential review can tell you — about two minutes, no cost, no obligation.
This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.